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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Chasing Beijing Qualifier, Kiplagat Returns to the Track on Saturday in Istanbul

Posted April 10th, 2008 at 8:07 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

In her first track appearance in nearly a year, two-time world road running champion Lornah Kiplagat will be looking to punch her ticket to the Beijing Olympics at this Saturday’s 12th European Cup 10,000m in Istanbul, Turkey.

The 33-year-old Kenyan-born Dutchwoman bypassed an attempt to defend her World Cross Country title in Edinburgh last month, she said, to focus on this summer’s Olympic Games.

“Lornah is just trying to run the qualification time for Beijing and is not looking for a very fast time,” said Kiplagat’s coach and husband, Pieter Langerhorst. “She needs to run, just like Hilda Kibet, 31:22.”
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Redemption: A runner’s inspirational quest for Boston

Posted February 28th, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Jim Fortner

Section: Motivation, Success Stories

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

Monica Cassier, of Midlothian, VA, was seeking to qualify for the Boston Marathon for the first time. Her extraordinary report of her journey to her goal is inspirational and a “must read”. It has been re-published on my personal site and below on TFS with her permission.

REDEMPTION, by: Monica Cassier

I can’t help but ask myself: “How can I be here?” It is an early December day in Charlotte, NC, the temperature is hovering in the low 20’s, and I’m minutes away from the start of the Thunder Road Marathon. I’m a couple of hundred miles from home. I’ve stayed with my brother-in-law and his family, but at race start I am alone, and I expect no familial support during this endeavor. I’m wearing shorts, a long-sleeve shirt layered over a short-sleeved shirt. And I’m freezing. What a difference a few weeks make. I rewind my mind. It’s a day a month earlier in Richmond, VA.

“How can I be here?” This is all I can think to myself. “This isn’t happening. This can’t be real… this is a bad dream.”
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